Grain-separator.



J. K. WHITE.

GRAIN SEPARATOR. y APPLIoATIoN FILED n.349, 1909. Rmmwnn Nov. 2o. 1911. 1,03 1 1 54.

Patented July 2, 1912.

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J. K. WHITE.

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED I'BB. 19, 1909. BBNEWIID NOV. 20, 1911. 1,031, 154.

Patented July 2, 1912.

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GRAIN sEPARAToR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1909. BENEWED NOV. 20, 1911. 1,031, 154. Patented July 2, 1912.

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JAMES K. WHITE, 0F GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA.

GRAIN-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Application filed February 19, 1909, Serial No. 478,934. Renewed November 20, 1911. Serial No. 661,419.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES K. VIII'rF., a citizen of the United States, and resident of Grand Forks, Grand Forks county, State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Separators; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to threshing machines, and more especially to separators used for removing the grain from the chaff and the straw after the threshing operation; and the object of the same is to produce an improved separator of this type which will act also as a straw carrier.

To this end the invention consists broadly in a series of hollow cylindrical reels or fans mounted adjacent the cylinder and each other and within a' covering or casing which has air inlets opposite the ends of the fans, each of the latter having blades preferably set at an angle between a radius and a tangent, grates beneath the cylinder and the fans each delivering` the material to the succeeding fan on a line with its blade at the point of impact, and an upright fixed shield standing within each fan and against which the grain directed inward between t-he blades strikes and drops downward and again outward between the blades at the bottom of thc cylinder and onto the grate.

The invention consists specifically in the preferred details of construction for carrying out this general idea, as described and claimed below.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of my machinein one form showing a shaking screen beneath the fans. Fig. 2 is a similar section (excepting that the casing is shown in elevation over the end of one fan) showing a slightly different form of my invention which employs a fixed shoe beneath the fans. Figs. 3 and l are details illustrating the construction of o-ne fan. Fig. 5 is a section like Fig. 1, showing modifications in the shape of the blades. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective details of still further modifications therein.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates the easing having an inlet 3 under a hood 4 and possibly a band cutter at 5, and to this inlet may lead a fixed feed table G or a movable feed carrier 7. The cylinder 9 cooperates with the grate 10 and. rotates in the direction of the arrow for threshing, in the usual and well known manner. IVithin the casing is a scalloped cover 11, whose last convolution communicates with the upper side of the straw exit 12 so that the eseallops of this cover" form thetops of the casings for the reels or fans described below, and the lower side of the exit 12 communicates with the rear casing wall 13 of the rearmost fan.- It has not been thought necessary to show the wheels or other supports for the main casing 2, nor to explain the exit to the straw stacker. The latter may be a separate machine whose inlet is attached to the exit 12, but in use I have found that the straw is blown out of this exit with such force that it can be carried to quite a distance through suitable tubing without the necessity for any further machinery.

Transversely within the casing 2 and beneath the scallops of the cover 11 I locate a plurality of hollow cylindrical reels, drums, or fans 21, 22, and 23, standing between the cylinder 9 and the rear casing 13 and revolved as seen by the arrows in alternately opposite directions. It has not been considcred necessary to show the means for producing this revolution, nor the revolution of the cylinder or band cutter, but I might add that it will probably be accomplished by belting 2li on the outside of the casing 2 traveling in proper direction over pulleys on the shafts of the cylinder and band cutter and over pulleys 25 on the shafts 26 of the fans, as partially indicated in Fig. 2. The sectional views illustrate the approximate relative sizes of the cylinder and fans, and the fan 22 which is the second of the series shown stands nearer its cover 11 than the others so that the latter have spaces above them forming passages for the straw. I may here state that while I show but three fans in the present construction, I may use a greater or less number and rotate them in the proper directions, but I prefer an odd number of fans whereof the irst next the cylinder shall turn in the direction shown with respect to the rotation of the cylinder and all shall rotate in alternately opposite directions. The preferred construction of these fans is best seen in Figs. 3 and 4. Fixed to the shaft 26 is a central disk 30 around which are setthe fan blades 3l with their outer edges inclined to the rear in the direction of rotation so that the tendency will be to give off the air radially outward. These blades are supported at the centers of their lengths by the disk, and are connected at their ends by rings 32 making the body of the fan tubular except for a central partition formed by the disk. Into each end of the tubular fan thus produced extends a nearly semicircular -shield section 33 whose inner extremity is out of contact with the disk and whose outer extremity is supported in a suitable manner from the casing 2. The shields in the series of fans are set so that they shall stand in fixed position npright within .descending sides of their respective fans and close to but out of contact with the inner edges of the blades 31. Suitable openings in t-he casing 2 at the ends of the fans admit air thereto, and these openings may be closed by dampers or blinds 34 so as to regulate the admission thereof. It will be obvious that air sucked in through the openings will be given off radially from those parts of each fan which are not opposite its shield 33, and the present invention employs the centrifugal force of these blades in a manner to be described below.

The construction of parts beneath the fans may diifer somewhat, and two forms are shown in Figs. l and 2. In the former, grates 40 stand beneath the fans similar to the grate 10 which is beneath the cylinder 9, the delivery end 100 of the grate 10 being carried obliquely upward nearly to the upwardly moving blades 3l of the irst fan 2l and the delivery end 400 of the intermediate fan 22 (which revolves in the same direction as the cylinder 9) nearly to the blades 31 of the fan 23. This intermediate grate 40 stands somewhat farther beneath its fan` 22 than the others so as to form a passage for the straw as will be seen in Fig. l. A shaking screen 42 stands beneath the grates and is mounted on links 43 which are vibrated by any suitable mechanism not necessary to illustrate, and below the screen stands a ixed shoe 44 which delivers the grain into a suitable receptacle by means not necessary to show and describe. At the front end of the screen 42 is a curved shield 45 which causes the grain shaken or blown from the screen toward the front to be returned toward the rear onto the shoe as indicated by the arrows. In Fig. 2 the same grates are employed and the same ixed shoe 44, but in place of the screen I provide curved shields 46 arranged one beneath each grate. The front ends 47 of these shields connect with the grates next in front, whereas their delivery ends 4S are spaced from the shields next to the rear, so that the grain is delivered toward the rear by the various fans, and the return shield 45 of Fig. l is not required. It may be of advantage to incline the slats of the grates 40 slightly to the rear in this construction, as shown, and it is possible to employ a shaking screen between the shields and shoe although such construction is not illustrated in Fig. 2.

The operation of the device is as follows, it being understood that the application of power starts all parts moving at the necessary speed in the directions indicated: The material being fed over the table 6 or carrier 7 and under the band cutter 5, passes through the inlet 3 lunder the hood 4 and is threshed by the cylinder 9 and its concave in a manner well known. The grate 10 atl its delivery end leads the threshed material upward toward the front side of the fan 2l which is rising, and the heavier kernals of grain will be directed through the blades 31 into the interior of this hollow fan where they will strike its fixed shield 33 and move downward within the latter out of the current of air passing through this fan-falle ing on' its lower edge, through the blades moving forward at the `bottom of the fan, onto and through at grate 40, and finally either onto the screen 42 and thence to the shoe 44 as in Fig. 1 or into the shield 46 and thence off at the rear end 48 onto the shoe 44 as in Fig. 2. Meanwhile the straw and coarser particles of the threshed material are tossed by the outer edges of the blades at the front of this fan, and carried over it in the passageway between it and the cover 11, thence downward toward the upwardly inclined blades of the second fan 22 which are moving inthe other direction. Here again what kernals have passed the first fan will be driven through the blades against the outer side of the second shield, down which they will slide`fallling outward through the blades at the bottom, and finally reaching the shoe 44 in the manner above described. The coarser particles are meanwhile beaten downward by the descending blades of the second fan and further broken up by impact upon its grate, and the latter directs them again upward toward the rising blades at the front of the third fan. This fan repeats t-he operation of the first fan, separates the grain from the particles of straw and delivers the latter into the straw exit l2; and if additional fans were employed after that numbered 23 the operation might be repeated again and again until complete separation took place. It will be understood that a proper amount of air is admitted to the axis by the blind 34; and as it is given oft" radially by the rotation of the fan and cannot be given 0E through its shield or through the escallop of the cover above the intermediate fan, it is forced to be blown in the direction necessary to both separate the grain and carry the straw along through the serpentine course indicated. Although I have shown and described details of the grates, shields, and screen and shoe, considerable modification of these features may be made as found necessary; and as to other parts of the machine (excepting the feed and the cylinder which are not my invention) the construction described above will be satisfactory without material alteration.

Une modification I have considered of sufiicient importance to illustrate on sheet 3, because it concerns the inclination of the blades hereinbefore described as to the rear in the direction of rotation. In Fig. 5 three fans are shown as in Figs. 1 and 2, but other parts are omitted excepting the cylinder 9, and the operation is practically the same. However, the fan blades 311 of the first fan 211 are shown with their inner edges 312 disposed in a reverse direction so that they will be inclined forwardly in the direction of rotation, whereas their outer edges 313 are still inclined to the rear in the direction of rotation as above described. This modification I consider consistent with the language used above and in the broader claims, because the outer edges of the blades are inclined to the rear where they receive the material directed between them by the delivery end 100 of the grate. To state the construction a little differently (which would `in fact be more accurately yit the angle between the two parts of each blade were nearer its inner edge) the blade is still inclined to the rear in ,the direction of rotation except at its inner edge which may be oppositely inclined or even truly radial. The blades 2315 of the second fan 221 are here shown as straight, thus illustrating the possibility that the blades of some fans may be straight and others not. The blades 316 of the third fan 231 are here shown as curved instead of angular as in the first fan 211, which illustrates the possibility that the direction of inclination at opposite edges of the blades may be attained without the use of angles which might retard the passage of the material.

In Fig. 6 is shown a detail of one of the angular blades 317 for the purpose of illustrating the fact that I may provide teeth 318 along the outer edge of the blade, and in Fig. 7 the teeth 310 are shown at the edge of a fiat blade 31 but the teeth themselves are inclined to the rear. From these modifications it will be clear that in the general idea I am not coniined to the use of flat blades nor to blades whose edges are straight, as it may be found that in its further development it is desirable to adopt amplifications in order to secure the highest efficiency of the machine. I-Iowever, as the modifications just described have given satisfactory results, I deem it advisable that they be protected herein.

iilhat is claimed as new is:

1. In a grain separator, the combination with a hollow cylindrical rotary fan standing on a horizontal axis and having a Series of blades around its periphery, a grate beneath the fan, and a casing covering the fan at its top and ends and having air inlets through the latter; of means for directing the material toward one side of the fan, and an upright fixed shield standing within the fan out of contact with the inner edges of the blades.

2. In al grain separator, the combination with a hollow cylindrical rotary fan standing on a horizontal'axis and having a series of blades around its periphery, a grate beneath the fan, and a casing covering the fan at its top and ends and having air inlets through the latter; of means for directing the material toward one side of the fan, and an upright fixed shield standing within the fan out of contact with the inner edges of the blades on the descending side thereof, leaving the other side and the top and bottom free.

3. In a grain separator, the combination with a hollow cylindrical rotary fan standing on a horizontal axis and having a series of blades around its periphery, a grate beneath the fan, and a casing covering the fan at its top and ends and having air inlets through the latter; of means for directing the material toward one side of the fan, and an upright fixed shield standing within the fan adjacent to but out of contact with the inner edges of the blades on the descending side thereof and curved to conform with them, leaving the other side and the top and bottom free.

1. In a grain separator, the combination with a hollow cylindrical rotary fan standing on a horizontal axis and having a series of blades around its periphery inclined to the rear in the direction of rotation, a grate beneath the fan, and a casing covering the fan at its to-p and ends and having air inlets through the latter; of means for directing the material toward one side of the fan on a line with its blade at the point of impact, and an upright fixed shield standing within the fan out of contact with the inner edges of the blades.

5. A grain separator comprising a threshing cylinder' and its grate, a series of cylindrical fans mounted on axes parallel with the cylinder and revolving with their adjacent sides moving in the same direction as each otherl and the one next the cylinder in an opposite direction thereto, the blades of all fans being inclined to the rear in the direction of rotation, a casing inclosing the fans and forming a serpent-ine straw passagewayfrom the delivery end of the cylinder grate to the straw exit, grates beneath the fans, and upright fixed curved shields standing within the fans adjacent to but out of contact with the inner edges of the blades which are descending.

6. A grain separator comprising a threshing cylinder and its grate, a series of cylindrical fans mounted on axes parallel wit-h the cylinder and revolving with their adj acent sides moving in the same direction as each other and the one next the cylinder in an opposite direction thereto, the blades of all fans being inclined to the rear in the direction of rotation, a casing inclosing the fans and forming a serpentine straw passageway from the delivery end of the cylinder grate to the straw exit, grates beneath the fans, and upright fixed curved shields standing within the fans adjacent to but out of contact with the inner edges of the blades which are descending, the delivery end of the grates of the cylinder and of those fans which rotate in the same direction as the cylinder being carried nearly to the upwardly moving` blades of the fans next in rear, for the purpose set forth.

7. In a grain separator, the combination with a hollow cylindrical rotary fan standing on a horizontal axis and having a series of blades around its periphery inclined to the rear in the direction of rotation, a grat-e beneath the fan, and a casing covering the fan at its top and ends and having` air inlets through the latter; of means for direct-- ing the material toward one side of the fan on a line with its blade at the point of inipact, and an upright fixed shield standing within the fan out of contact with the inner edges of the blades on the descending` side thereof, leaving the other side and the top and bottom free.

8. In a grain separator, the combination with a suitable casing having an air inlet; of a cylindrical fan whose shaftis journaled in the casing opposite said inlet, a disk fixed on the center of the shaft, fan blades secured at their centers to said disk and inclined to the rear in the direction of rotation, rings secured to the end of said blades, a curved shield made in sections secured at their outer ends to said easing with their bodies projecting into that of the fans adjacent the inner edges of the descending blades, and a grate beneath the fan.

9. In a grain separator, the combination with a cylindrical fan whose shaft is journaled in a casing, an air inlet through the latter into the end of the fan, a disk fixed on the shaft, and oblique blades carried by the disk and inclined to the rear in the direction of rotation; of a shield made in sections whose outer ends are supported by the casing and whose body stands upright within the fan body near the descending side thereof, a grate below the fan catching the material delivered by the shield, and means for directing the material to be threshed toward the front side of the fan on a line with its blade at the point of impact.

10. In a grain separator, the combination with a series of three hollow cylindrical fans rotating on horizontal axes alternately in opposite directions, a casing forming a serpentine passageway alternately over and under these fans, air inlets through the casing into the ends of the fans, and blades in the latter inclined to the rear in the direction of rotation; of means for feeding the material to be separated obliquely to the upwardly moving front side of the first fan, for carrying the material similarly to the upwardly moving front side of the third fan, and for similarly carrying the material to the downwardly moving side of the second fan, and fixed shields within all fans adjacent the blades at their downwardly moving sides, the shields of the first and third fans being at the rear and that of the intermediate fan at the front.

11. In a grain separator, the combination with a hollow cylindrical rotary fan standing on a horizontal axis and having a series of blades aroundV its periphery inclined to the rear in the direction of rotation, a grate beneath the fan, and a casing covering the fan at its top and ends and having air inlets through the latter; of means for directing the material toward one side of the fan on a line with its blade at the point of impact, and an upright xed shield standing within the fan adjacent to but out 'of contact with the inner edges of the blades on the descending side thereof and curved to conform with them, leaving the other side and the top and bottom free.

12. A grain separator comprising a threshing cylinder and its grate, a series of cylindrical fans mounted on axes parallel with the cylinder and revolving with their adjacent sides moving in the same direction as each other and the one next the cylinder in an opposite direction thereto, the blades of all fans being inclined to the rear in the direct-ion of rotation and toothed at their outer edges, a casing inclosing the fans and forming a serpentine straw passageway from the delivery end of the cylinder grate to the straw exit, grates beneath the fans, and 'upright curved shields fixed within the fans adjacent the inner edges of the blades which are descending.

13. A grain separator comprising a series of fans arranged adjacent to each other and the cylinder of threshing machine, the blades of the fans being toothed at their outer edges, means for rotating the cylinder and the fans alternately in opposite directions, a casing inclosing the fans forming a serpentine straw passageway from the de- In testimony whereof I have hereunto livery end of the cylinder grate to the straw subscribed my signature this the ninth day exit, grates beneath the fans, means for co1- of February, A. D. 1909.

leeting the grain falling through these JAMES K. WHITE. 5 grates, and Xed upright shields Within the Witnesses:

body of the fans for catching the grain Soorr REX,

driven thereinto. VIOLET CAssEDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. C. 

